The baseball season is onto its final series of the 2009 season — what many of us hope will be a seven-game epic between two East Coast teams everyone is ready to slobber over.

But seriously, let’s not talk about the Phillies and the Yankees. There are more important things to worry about, like who each team will get to be the celebrity entertainment before the games. Because, you know, every league has to try and make their championship as much like the Super Bowl as it can.

So how do the Yankees knock this particular portion of our baseball intake out of the park? By bringing in Jay-Z and Alicia Keys to perform “Empire State of Mind” prior to Wednesday’s Game 1 at the new Yankee Stadium.

Jay-Z is, of course, a huge fan of the Bombers and has called gig a “once in a lifetime experience.”

He also happens to be one of the most iconic rappers/businessmen of our generation and Alicia Keys isn’t so bad to look at or listen to. I’m all for it. This is the kind of musical master stroke only the Yankees could make.

Now, the next question is how do the Phillies answer? They have to get someone from Philly that can command a stage like Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. Not easy to do. In fact, maybe impossible. But they do have a few options that are worth thinking about.

The Roots: Want to stick with hip hop? Can’t go wrong with The Roots. They might not stack up with Jay-Z but really, who does?

Pink: Eh, nevermind. Nobody wants to see Pink on another pre-game spot.

DJ Jazzy Jeff: OK, bear with me. What would be better than walking into a baseball game with Jazzy Jeff spinning records. That would get me pumped. It’s certainly better than hearing some lame organ music or something. Hell, I say bring Will Smith in and put the two together. It would be all retro and stuff.

Cinderella: Yes, I’m talking about the 1980s glam-metal band. Just makes you wonder how messed up things were in the 80s that this band was actually popular, but never mind that. Have them play their two biggest hits, “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)” and “Nobody’s Fool,” and the masses will be pleased. Especially if they have mullets.

Under consideration but not putting them on the list for various reasons:Boys II Men (played out), Bloodhound Gang (not good enough), Solomon Burke (love his Motown stuff but…), John Coltrane (deceased, but it would be awesome), Kevin Eubanks (because he’s associated with Jay Leno).

clearly you aren’t much of a music buff, after proclaiming that a) the roots don’t stack up to Jay-Z, and b) omiting from your list a variety of talented philadelphia musicians such as g love, amos lee, dr dog, etc.

Dave is right, Jay-Z has never been successful enough to be the house band of a 12:30am talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon. This means that the Roots are obviously much better than Jay-Z, and Kevin Eubanks outshines all them.